CATEGORY |
CUISINE |
TAG |
YIELD |
Dairy, Eggs, Grains |
French |
|
1 |
Servings |
INGREDIENTS
1 |
c |
Flour; (Wondra or instant-blending preferred) |
2/3 |
c |
Each milk and water |
3 |
lg |
Eggs |
1/4 |
ts |
Salt |
3 |
tb |
Melted butter; or sesame or peanut oil |
1 |
lb |
Carrots |
6 |
tb |
Butter; (up to 8) |
|
|
Salt and pepper |
1/2 |
ts |
Or so fresh or dried dill weed; (optional) |
1 |
lb |
Fresh mushrooms |
4 |
tb |
Minced shallots or scallions |
1 |
bn |
(18 to 20 ounces) fresh broccoli |
2 |
c |
Coarsely grated Swiss Cheese |
1 |
c |
(1/2 lb) cream cheese |
6 |
lg |
Eggs |
1 |
c |
Milk and/or heavy cream |
|
|
Salt and pepper |
|
|
A pinch of nutmeg; to taste |
2 1/2 |
c |
Fresh tomato sauce; (up to 3) |
INSTRUCTIONS
CREPE BATTER
VEGETABLES AND CHEESE
FOR FILLING
CUSTARD MIXTURE FOR FILLING
OPTIONAL SAUCE
The following two recipes - representing France and Italy - come from Julia
Child's "Menu Cookbook." Add this to your library list, as well!
(Molded mountain of crepes layered with vegetables and cheese)
"Here is a handsome dish indeed, layers of fresh vegetables bound with a
cheese custard, baked in a mold lined with crepes - those multipurpose thin
French pancakes. Serve it hot as a first course, a luncheon dish, or as the
main course for a vegetarian meal, and any leftovers are good cold."
(plm: Merry Mary: You will want to use this thinly sliced as a light first
course, or even as an appetizer)
Equipment: A heavy cast-iron or cast-aluminum (nonstick recommended) frying
pan with 5-1/2" bottom diameter, for the crepes; an 8-cup baking dish, such
as a metal charlotte mold, 4" deep; an instant meat thermometer is
recommended
The Crepes - Batter: * (for 18 to 20 crepes 5-1/2" or 14 cm in diameter):
Scoop dry-measure cup into flour container until cup is overflowing; sweep
off excess with the straight edge of a knife, and pour flour into a pitcher
or bowl. Blend the milk and water into the flour, beating with a whip until
smooth (easy with Wondra or instant-blending flour), then beat in the eggs,
salt and butter or oil. Let rest for 10 minutes (1-2 hours, if using
all-purpose flour) so the flour granules can absorb the liquid-making a
tender crepe.
The Crepes - Cooking: To cook the crepes, heat frying pan or pans until
drops of water sizzle on the surface. Brush lightly with a little butter
(usually only necessary for the first crepe), and pour 2 to 3 tablespoons
or so of the batter into the center of the pan, turning the pan in all
directions as you do so to spread the batter over the bottom surface. (If
you have poured in too much, pour excess back into your batter bowl.) Cook
for 30 seconds or so, until you see, when you lift an edge, that it is
nicely browned. Turn and cook for 10 to 15 seconds more-this second side
never cooks evenly and is kept as the non-public or bottom side of the
crepe. Arrange crepes, as they are made, on a cake rack so they will cool
and dry off for 5 minutes or so. When dry (but not brittle!), stack
together, wrap in foil, and place in a plastic bag.
Crepes will keep for 2 to 3 days in the refrigerator. To freeze, it is best
to package them in stacks of 6 or 8; either thaw at room temperature, or
unpackage and heat in a covered dish in a moderate oven for 5 minutes or
until they separate easily.
Note: I used to stack my cooked crepes between sheets of wax paper or foil,
but now that I have learned the cool-and-dry system, I have not found it
necessary, even for freezing.
Preparing the Vegetables: Trim and peel the carrots, and cut into julienne
matchsticks.. Saute in 1-1/2 Tablespoons butter in a large frying pan,
swirling and tossing frequently until carrots are nicely tender and being
careful not to brown them. Season well with salt, pepper, and optional
dill; set aside in a bowl.
Trim and wash the mushrooms, and cut into fine mince (a food processor is
helpful here); a handful at a time, twist the mushrooms in the corner of a
clean towel to extract as much of their juice as possible. Saute in the
same large frying pan in 1-1/2 Tablespoons butter with the shallots
continued in part 2
A Message from our Provider:
“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish that counts”